Operating mechanism for barbers&#39; chairs.



K. MOLUF.

OPERATING MECHANISM FOR BARBERS CHAIRS.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN.25,1912.

1 ,031,808. Patented July 9, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

K. MOLUP. OPERATING MEGHANISM FOR BARBERS CHAIRS. APPLIGATION FILED @11.25, 1912.

1 ,O31 ,808. Patented July 9, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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OPERATING MECHANIS FOB BABBEBS CHAIRS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J uly 9, 1912.

Application led January 25, 1912. Serial No. 673,446.

T0 all uhnm. 'if may concern.'

Be it known that I, Karr Mouw. a citizen ot' the United States, residing at Benson, in the county of Douglas and `State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Operating Mechanism for Barbers Chairs. of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved operating mechanism for barbel-s chairs, and has for its object, broadly, to provide few and simple parts for this purpose so that manufacture may be economical, and which will be effective and convenient in use for moving the chair to the various positions re uired.

Vhile the invention is described in connection with a barbers chair, the same mechanism may be employed to advantage in the manufacture of operating chairsv for surgeons or dentists.

The invention has reference to mechanism for elevating and lowering the chair, for releasing, the chair-support or phmger, so that it may be .rotated or may be secured non-rotatively, andfor releasing the reclining-rod, the construction being such that the movements of all ofthe parts may be effected by a single hand-lever which the operator may swing forwardly or rearwardly.

The invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts. as described herein and claimed, and as illustrated in the drawing, wherein,-

Figure 1 is a view partly broken and in longitudinal section ofthe cylinder, the plunger, and the` gripping device for the reclining rod, the viewl bei-ng on line a a. of Eig. 4. Fig. 2 is a view in longitudinal section of the plunger on liney b b of Fig. 4. Fig. 3 is a side view, partly broken away and in section, showing the seat-flange, the plunger and cylinder, and showing thegripping'devicel for the reclining-rodin section on line c c of Fig. 4; Fig. 4 is a plan view' showing thel seat. flange, a part of the shaft for the operating. lever and reclining-rod, the seat: flangebeing. close the gripping-device for the recliningrod. Figs. 5 and are, respectively, plan and side viewsv of thevalve.

Referring now to the drawing for a more particular description, an upright cylinder which may bev partly vfilled with oil or: .Suitable-liquid, and

numeral 1 indicatesY within which may be seated for vertical reciprocation the plunger 'l formed in its bottom near its side wall with a passageway 3 communicating with the c vlindcr. its upper end preferably being open and provided with an annular, transverse [lange l. It will beundcsstood hat the parts men tioned provide the support for a chair seat which may be mounted upon the terminal flange 4; and device.; are provided and will now be described, by means ot' which the chair may have various movements. All of these movements, with the exception of the operation of certain springs, are effected by the use of a single hand-lever, this being indicated at 5. The single, operating shaft for the hand-lever is indicated at 6; it is disposed horizontally and traverses the upper part of the plunger with bearings in bosses 7 formed on the inner wall and at oposite sides thereof.

At 8 is indicated a piston provided with a valve 9, the piston rod 10 havingits lower end mounted upon the piston, its upper end being mounted upon crank-arm 11, said arln being keyed upon shaft 6. Rigidly mounted upon the bottom near the periphery of the piston and disposed in the vertical plane of passageway 3, is a downwardly projecting contact-finger 12. Upon the lower endlof the plunger are provided the pair of brackets 13 to provide bearings for the. pivot or shaft 14 upon which is secured the detent-member 15. said member consistingof a buffer or block 16 and a tait piece orarm 17. Shaft 14 is therefore disposed below and preferably is in alinement with the longitudinal axis of the plunger. 'lhc buffer block of the detentl member may bc disposed between shaft 14 and the wall of the cylinder, and upon occasion may engage saidwall. Between arm 17 and the lower end ofthe plunger is mounted a coiled spring 18,V said spring being preferably mounted upon stopdugs 19 and 20 which extend toward each other, lug 19 being mounted upon the bottom of the plunger and, lug 20 Vbeing mounted upon the upper side of arm 17. The detent member may have limited swinging movements. its block and arm moving upwardly and downwardly. The upward movement of block lwill be caused bythe expansion of vspring 18, the block thereupon making engagernentwith the side wall of the cylinder, and attlls @mathe-.entire Weight-.of the plunger and arts carried thereby will be sustained by t e frictional engagement f the block with the wall of the cylinder, and whilethis engagement continues, a rotatable movement of the plunger in the c linder or a vertical movement thereof will revented. By referring to Figs. 1 or 2 it will be seen that a downward movement of the piston 8 under control of hand-lever 5 will cause tinger 12 to engage with block 16, said finger moving downwardly through passageway 3 for said engagement. Spring 18 will thereby be compressed, and the adJacent ends of lugs 19 and 20 may make contact. The contact of these lugs will limit the downwardly swinging movement of block 16 and will prevent compression of the lower part of va ve 9 between piston 8 and the bottom of the plunger.

It is quite important that operating-chairs ofthe class described be held 1n a stationary position after they have been elevated or owered. By swinging lever 5 rearwardly tothe position shown in Fig. 2, finger 12 will be disposed within passageway 3. A somewhat fart-her rearward swinging movement of lever 5 will cause the finger to engage block 16, spring 18 resisting a movement of the block, and if the lever is sw rearwardly still farther, block 16 will be disengaged from the wall of the cylinder, the resistance of spring 18 being overcome, and the plunger may then be revolved, raised or lowered in the cylinder.

At 21 is indicated a recess or passageway formed in the side wall of the plunger to open upon its bottom; the length of the recess, longitudinally of the plunger is somewhat greater than the combined lthickness of the piston and the bottom of the plunger, so that when the piston moves to its lowermost position in the plunger, recess 21 `will provide a passageway for the upward movement of oil from the cylinder within the plunger. By reason of the described construction, to lower the plunger, the operator may swing hand-lever 5 rearwardly, as above mentioned, and since the u per face of the piston will then be disposeddbelow the upper art of passageway 21, sai passageway will be unobstructed, and oil may flow upwardly, and block 16 will be disen aged from the wall of the cylinder with t e result that, on account of the weightof the plunger and parts mounted thereon, said plunger will slide downwardlyin the cylinder. When the lunger has been lowered to the desired altitude, the operator, by-a slight forward swinging movement of the hand lever, may cause the -iston to be raised above the upper end o assageway 21; this prevents any further sow of oil throu h t e passageway from the cylinder into t e plunger, and the block of the detent member will again engage the wall of the cylinder to hold the parts in 'd relation. To elevate the plunger within t e linder, hand-lever 5 may be swung forwaigly and rearwardly a few times, pump-valve 9 o erating in the usual manner; and'since tg action of suction pum explanation is require except to state that while the plunger moves upwardly, the end of block 16 will remain in en ement with the wall of the cylinder an will drag or slide upwardly thereon. During the operation of pumping for the purpose of elevating the plun er, the piston is caused to reciprocate wit in a suitable range somewhat above the bottom of the plunger, the uppermost position of the piston at this time being as shown in Fig. 3. The extent of the rearward swing of hand-lever 5 while pumpin however, is not important, for if, at this time, block 16 is disengaged from the wall of the cylinder by the finger 12, occasioned by an extreme rearward throw of hand-lever 5, it will be understood that upon the reverse swingi movement of lever 5 block 16 will imme iately enga e the wa of the cylinder and will detain e plunger from a downward sliding movement. If recess 21 is formed to rovide a considerable lengt-h transversely o? the wall of member 2, the descent of this member within the cylinder may be com aratively rapid. It will be understood, oi) course, that during this downward movement of member 2, no oil passes through valve 9, since the compression of oil in the cylinder will cause this valve to be closed.

Crank-arm 11 may be of any suitable length to determine the -required extent of the lon itudinal movement of the piston within t e plunger. By means of set-screw 22 an adjustment may be made ,so that the piston will be disposed below the upper end of recess 21, when hand-lever 5 is thrown rearwardly, as and for the purpose above mentioned.

At 23 is indicated the reclining-rod. It is disposed at right angles to and below shaft 6 at the side of member 2, opposite to hand-lever 5. Rod 23 is quite generally employed in connection with the manufacture of barbers chairs, and the subject is so well understood that no particular explanation is needed. It may be stated, however, that it is a necessary requirement that this reclining rod shall have a longitudinal movement at the time the backof the chair is swung rearwardly to a reclining position; also that a 'pping device be provided so that said mfg?, may be held in a stationary position, to sustain the back of the chair atthe desired inclination, when it has been swun rearwardly. Devices will now be descrel for the control thlel jaws or wings o this grippin mem r, t e same to be operated by hand Fever 5.

is well known, no

merece At 24 is indicated the gripping-member for the reclining-rod, consisting of a supporting-plate 25 substantially of L-shape, to provide an upright arm 26 for a mounting uponthe outer end of shaft 6, and to provide a substantially horizontal arm 27 to be dis posed below said shaft. A wing or hood 28 1s lprovided having a pivotal connection 29 of its inner side with the terminal of arm 27, and formed midway between its ends with an arch 30 extendin parallel with and adapted to overhang sia t 6. The supporting-plate 25 and the arch-shaped wing 28, in effect, constitute the two members of a hinge, the pintle thereof being the pivot 29. A concaved bearing 31 is formed to extend transversely in the upper face of arm 27 near the pivot 29, and a corresponding bearing 32 is formed in the lower face of wing 28 within which bearings the reclining-rod 23 may be seated. At 33 are indicated a pair of upright bolts traversing wing 28, at the sides of its arched wall 30. The bolts also traverse and are secured to arm 27. Spiral springs 34 are mounted upon the bolts, the lower ends of the springs bearing upon wing 28 and their upper ends bearing n on the bolt heads. The lower side of arc 30 is formed with an inwardly projecting. longitudinal ridge or contact-member 35, and upon shaft 6 is mounted the lug 36 adapted to engage member 35 during a part of the rotatable movement of said shaft, this engagement being when hand-lever 5 is swung forwardly. As thus described the weight of the gripping device is sustained by shaft. 6. and this shaft may be rotated in its bearings in arm 26 of the L-shaped plate. On account of the compression of springs 34, wing 28 is compressed or moved in a direct-ion of arm 27 of the L-shaped plate, and therefore the reclining-rod 23 is normally held between and in rigid relation with walls 3l and 32 to prevent a longitudinal movement of this rod. When it is desired to release rod 23 so that it may have a longitudinal movement, the operator swings. hand-lever 5 forwardly until lug 36 engages ridge 35, as shown in Fig. 3; and an additional, limited, forwardly swinging movement of the hand-lever will cause an upward swinging movement. of wing` 28, with the result thatrod 23 will be released-for the above purpose. It will thus be seen that all f the parts operate antomatically with the' exception of the parts An operator therefore has complete control of all of the required movements of the chair by simply moving the hand-lever forwardly or rearwardly.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters 'Patent is,-

1. Mechanism for the purpose described, comprising, in combination with a cylinder,

a plunger mounted therein and having. an apertured bottom, a detent-block plvotally mounted upon the plunger and normally 1n engagement with the cylinder; a piston provided with a valve and a contact-finger; means to reciprocate the piston, said contact finger during one of the reciprocatory movements traversing said aperture in the bottom of the plungerl for disengaging the detent block from said cylinder.

2. Mechanism for the purpose described, comprising` in combination with a cylinder, a plunger mounted therein and provided with a pivotally mounted detent-block normally in engagement with the cylinder: a piston provided with a valve and ada ted to be reciprocated longitudinally within the plunger, and a contact finger movable by one of the reciprocatory movements of the piston for disengaging the'detent block from said cylinder. i

3. Mechanism for thepurpose described, com rising, in combination with a cylinder, a p unger mounted therein, a transversely disposed detent-block pivotally mounted between its ends and supported by the plunger,

a spring mounted upon one end of the detent block for causing normal engagementA of the opposite end of said block with the cylinder, a piston provided with a valve and adapted to be reciprocated longitudinally within the plunger, and a contact memberY movable by the reciprocatory movements of the piston for disengaging t-he detent block from said cylinder.

4. Mechanism for the purpose described, comprising, in combination with a cylinder, a plunger mounted therein and having an aperture formed in its bottom and a recess formed in its side wall to open upon its bottom; a piston provided with a valve and adapted to be reciprocated longitudinally within the plunger, said piston during one of its reciprocative movements being disposed below the upper part of said recess to provide a passageway communicating with the interior of the cylinder and the interior of the plunger.

5. Mechanism for the purpose described, comprising, in combination with a cylinder, a plungermounted therein and formed with a recess opening upon its lower terminal, a piston provided with a valve and adapted to be reciprocated longitudinally ofthe plunger,

-said piston during one of its reci rocative movements being disposed below t e upper partof said recess to provide a passageway communicating with the interior of the cylinder and with the interior part of the plunger above said piston.

6. Mechanism for the purpose described, comprising, in combination with a cylinder, a plunger mounted therein, said plunger having an aperture formed in its bottom and a recess formed in its side wall to open upon its bottom; a piston provided with a.`

' valve and adapted to be reciprocatedlongitudnally within the plunger; a detent block carried by the lunger and adapted to be dis osed normalliy in engagement with the wal of thel cylinder; a contact-member araranged to-have a movement from one of the reciprocative movementsof the piston to cause a disengagement of the detent member from the wall `of the cylinder, said pis- `ton during aipart of said reciprocative lrecess opening upon its lower terminal; a

piston provided with a valve and adapted to -be reciprocated longitudinally within the plunger; a detent-block mounted upon the plunger and adapted to benormally in engagement with the wall of the cylinder; a contact-member movable by one of the re- Y ciprocatory movements of the piston for disengagement of the detent-block from said wall,the piston during a part of said reciprocative movement ybeing disposedbelow the upper part of said recess to provide a passageway in communication with the cylinder and with that part of the plunger above said piston.

8. Operating mechanism for chairs of the class described, comprising, in combination with an upright cylinder, a plunger mount-- ed therein, a piston mounted in the plunger, and a reclining-rod, a rotatable operating shaft connected with and adapted to reciprocate the piston, said operating shaft being provided with a lug and having bearings in the plunger; a gripping-member for the reclining-rod comprising a plate of substantially L-shape mounted upon the oper 'ating shaft, a wing pivotally mounted upon said plate and having a part formed as an arcuate wall with a projection, said wing being pivotally mounted upon said plate and normally in engagement with said reclining-rod; a detent-block carried by the plunger normally in engagement with the cylinder, a contact piece movable by one of the reciprocative movements of the plunger for disengaging t-he detent-block from said cyl- 'inder, the lug` of said operating shaft durmovements; pivotally-connectetl wings supported by the operating shaft in normal engagement. with and for preventing longitudinal movements of the reclining-rod; a

piston disposed in the plunger and adapted v to have longitudinal reciprocation by the ro` tatable movements of the operating shaft; a detent-block mounted upon the plunger norn mally in engagement with the cylinder; a contact-finger movable by one of the longitudinal movements of the piston for disengaging the detent-block from the cylinder; devices connected with the operating shaft and one of the pivotally connected wings whereby said wings may be disengaged from the reclining-rod by one of they rotatable movements of the operating shaft.

10. In combination with a cylinder, a plunger therein; an operating shaft mounted upon the plunger and adapted to have a reciprocatory rotary movement; a. recliningrod; a detent-block mounted upon the plunger normally in engagement with the` cylinder; a piston mounted within the plunger and provided with a connection with the operating shaft; a pair of pivotally connected wings supported by the operating shaft normally engaging and tending toA KNUT MOLU F.

Witnesses:

HInAM A. STURGES, A. F. CLARK. 

